Speaker: Knox County Mayor Tim BurchettTopic: County Budget and General Q&ADate: Wednesday, July 10th, from 12 pm to 1 pm

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett discussed the state of the county, with emphasis on the new budget, as well as answered questions from the membership. We had a great turnout, and look forward to more guests joining us next month, as well as some of our new and repeat guests becoming members!

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett jokes with longtime member Richard Tumblin. At right are county commissioner R. Larry Smith and Central High School principal Jody Goins.

Fountain City Business and Professional Association president Andrew Hartung presents a check for $500 to Susan Long, director of the CAC Office on Aging, to support Mobile Meals.

Speaker: Elaine Streno, Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank of East TNTopic: What is Second Harvest Food Bank, how do they help, and what are their programs?Date: Wednesday, August 8th, from 12 pm to 1 pm

Elaine Streno, the Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank of East TN, spoke with us about their mission, their programs, and how we can get involved. Second Harvest provides food to those in need for an 18-county region through a variety of organizations and program types.

Speaker: Knox County Mayor Tim BurchettTopic: County Budget and General Q&ADate: Wednesday, June 13th, from 12 pm to 1 pm

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett discussed the state of the county, with emphasis on the new budget, as well as answered questions from the membership. We had a great turnout, and look forward to more guests joining us next month, as well as some of our new and repeat guests becoming members!

Speaker: National Speaker & Author, Brian HilliardTopic: Building a Word of Mouth Business Thru Social MediaDate: Wednesday, April 11th, from 12 pm to 1 pm

Brian Hilliard provided tips and advice on using Facebook and LinkedIn to get more referrals and enhance word-of-mouth marketing.

Brian Hilliard, consultant on social media, talks with Jonathan Patrick, senior vice president of lending for UT Federal Credit Union, following the April meeting of the Fountain City Business and Professional Association.

Brian Hillard, is a popular speaker and author of the best-selling book Networking Like a Pro! and How to Overachieve without Over Committing. As a national speaker and creator of the program How to Market Your Business in Less Than 90 Days, Brian knows what it takes for busy entrepreneurs to get more business right away. Some of Brian’s work has appeared nationally in Black Enterprise, and the Martha Zoller Morning Show, where his interview was broadcast to over 2 million listeners. When not travelling, Brian spends time at home with his family.

Speaker: Dr. Kevin Kragenbrink with Estrada StrategiesTopic: How are they doing it? Tips / Stories from 3 local businesses that are thriving in the current economy – All Occasion Catering, Russell’s Pest Control and Master Custom Home Remodeling.Date: Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Dr. Kevin Kragenbrink is partner and Head business Coach at Estrada Strategies. Dr. Kragenbrink has distinguished himself for more than 30 years as teacher, business coach, entrepreneur, church leader, consultant, and strategist. His background includes 6 years of military service, four years in large corporate organizations, more than 20 years in small business ownership and nearly 30 years in support of churches and other non-profit organizations. His record of success is matched by his passion to contribute to the success of the business owners and executives he now serves. By all accounts Dr. Kragenbrink is an inspirational, gregarious, and insightful speaker; a powerful business coach; an effective teacher and consultant; and a talented vocal performer. He is acclaimed by friends, colleagues and clients alike as a powerful, understanding, compassionate leader and motivator.

Kevin discussed how 3 local businesses have grown in a down economy by marketing more (not less), focusing on annual strategic planning, building a quality team and getting out of their comfort zone to grow personally and professionally.

Speaker: Bob Headley, Member Representatie for NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business)Topic: The NFIB – Who are they? And what can they do for you?Date: Wednesday, February 8th, from 12 pm to 1 pm

Have you ever thought to yourself…. I’m just one person / one business. I can’t make a difference. My voice won’t be heard. If they would only change this policy…then I could… this meeting showed us just how the NFIB takes that one person, that one business and gives them a voice to be heard, and strength in numbers.

Mark Enix, owner of Fountain City Jewelers, speaks with Bob Headley following the Feb. 8 meeting. Headley is membership representative for the NFIB, a lobbying group for small businesses. Info: (865) 603-7576.

Bob Headley is the Member Rep. for the NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business). The NFIB was founded in 1943 with the mission to protect the rights of small business owners, to own, operate, and grow their business. They lobby on behalf of small business on both state and federal issues. Then going further, they follow up, fight, and testify to make an impact of these issues. They have lobbying offices in all 50 state capitols and in Washington D.C. – For more information visit http://www.nfib.com/tennessee.

Speakers: Marshall Wilkins, Owner of the Kingston Overlook and Turkey Creek Chick-fil-A FranchisesTopic: Eat More Chikin – Customer Service and Business Success Principles for Any BusinessDate: Wednesday, January 11th, from 12 to 1 pm

Eat Mor Chikin

The franchise owner, Marshall Wilkins, of a chicken restaurant known primarily for its cows, outlined principles that will work in any business.

“We’re in the people business, serving chicken; not in the chicken business, serving people,” said Marshall Wilkins. During tough times, focus on becoming more of who you are (rather than try to change) and work to create “raving fans” – customers who come often, tell others and are willing to pay full price.

“You do that and the sales will come; the profits will come,” he said.

Daniel Monday with Slamdot explained what you really needed to know about small business websites and other online marketing vehicles like Facebook, Twitter and so on. He discussed why you should be taking advantage of the Internet to market yourself and your company, without making it another full-time job. He discussed the most important things to keep in mind when it comes to websites, SEO and social media marketing.

Daniel Monday graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a focus in Journalism and Advertising, and joined Slamdot in the fall of 2005. Daniel has over 5 years of marketing experience, and loves people. Since starting with Slamdot he has moved from sales associate to Chief Operating Officer, working on business development, customer service and marketing. He was chosen by his peers as Knoxville Chamber Ambassador of the Year for 2010-2011.

This was a special opportunity to meet and get to know our candidates. They were presented with 10 pre-selected questions, and had a short amount of time to answer, with everyone having an opportunity to respond.

You can learn more about the candidates below. Here are a few pictures:

Tennessee State Senate Candidates

Victoria DeFreese

DeFreese—an involved South Knox County resident and seasoned educator—is a fiscal and social conservative.

“In these tough times we need to get government off the backs of small businesses, empower highly qualified educators in the trenches at public schools, reclaim state power from federal overreach, and defend the Tennessee constitution against a state income tax. It is time for capitalism to reign and opportunities to flourish in Tennessee,” said DeFreese. “I want to be a voice for the middle class in the state senate.”

DeFreese’s experience in education makes her the best replacement for Jamie Woodson, the departing incumbent and past leader in education reform. Besides her degree in education, DeFreese has a wide array of hands-on educational experience as an instructor for Talented And Gifted (TAG), consultant for a British publisher, a home school instructor, a satellite school instructor, Johnson University adjunct instructor and guest speaker, a tutor, a proctor for standardized testing, assistant director at Shades Development, an assessment team member for a Title I Tutoring program, Writing Boot Camp Instructor, and a 6th grade Reading and Language teacher.

In addition to her education acumen, DeFreese has served on the Knox County Library Advisory Board, on the Transfer of Development Rights Land-Use Concept task force, as a Republican precinct delegate, and as an interim Knox County Commissioner. DeFreese is a woman dedicated to her family, her community, and the values of the 6th District: stimulating small businesses, empowering the most accomplished classroom teachers, preserving the state constitution, and eliminating wasteful government expenditures of tax dollars.

ABOUT VICTORIA DEFREESE

Victoria DeFreese was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. She graduated from Speedway Public High School and went to Johnson University in Knoxville, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.

For nearly 18 years, DeFreese has made her home in South Knoxville with her husband, Donald. She is the proud mother of three daughters and one son: Savannah, Isabelle, Marietta, and James, who are all enrolled in the Knox County school system. The DeFreeses enjoy hiking, camping, and spending time together with friends and family.

Becky Duncan Massey

Becky Duncan Massey is a candidate for the Tennessee State Senate seat in District 6 of Knox County. She will run in the Republican Primary on September 27, 2011.

Massey’s primary goal is to reduce the over abundance of government regulations and to increase the efficiency of state government so that more money will end up in our communities across the state. Some of her priorities will include: recruit new jobs to Tennessee, strengthen our educational system and prevent tax increases for our citizens.

Massey is the Executive Director of the non-profit Sertoma Center which serves over 100 adults who have intellectual disabilities. For 13 years, she has managed a staff of 160 people and balanced an annual $6,000,000 operational budget. She began at Sertoma in 1993 as the Marketing and Development Director and was promoted to Executive Director in 1998.

A native Knoxvillian, Massey received a BS in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee. She has been married to Morton Massey for 35 years and they have two daughters – Courtney, 32 and Kristen, 29. Together, Morton and Becky coached a girls softball team for 22 years at Rocky Hill Ballpark where a field was named in their honor in 2000. The family has been members of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church for 34 years.

Active in the community, Massey is the President-Elect of Tennessee Community Organizations and has served on the board of directors of the Akima Club, U.T. Alumni, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Overlook Center and Dogwood Arts Festival. She was in the Leadership Knoxville Class of 2005, a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and on the Nine Counties One Vision Task Force. In 1992, she was Co-Chair of the Dogwood Arts Festival and a delegate to the Republican National Convention.

Massey understands the responsibilities of being a public servant. Her late father John J. Duncan, Sr. served as Mayor of Knoxville from 1959-1963 and as U.S. Representative from 1964-1988. Her brother John J. Duncan, Jr. followed in their Dad’s footsteps as U.S. Representative from 1988-present.

Marilyn has served the last seven years as at an At-Large member of Knoxville’s City Council, working closely with the Haslam Administration to bring growth and fiscal discipline to the City. Marilyn can often be found at community events and meetings across Knox County. Marilyn believes that leadership begins with listening.

Marilyn Chairs the City of Knoxville Audit Committee, is a member of the City Investment Advisory Board and has served as co-chair of the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Committee. As a member of Council, she has focused on services and finances, the backbone of local government.

Marilyn is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a former third grade teacher. She has been involved in the Knox County community for over 20 years. She is immediate Past President of the Metropolitan Drug Commission and was Vice Chairman of the Legacy Parks Foundation. She is a graduate of Leadership Knoxville, has served as her daughters’ elementary school PTA president and has been a member of the Ijams Nature Center Board of Directors. Marilyn is an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, where she has served as a Sunday school teacher and leader.

Marilyn and Patrick Roddy have been married for over 25 years and are the parents of three daughters, ages 15, 19, and 22. They enjoy supporting their daughters’ many activities.